A snowflake’s sweet spot — when they’re fluffiest, longest-lasting and easiest to see — is at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees, he said. That’s when you get stellar dendrites, the large, star-shaped crystals prevalent in holiday movies.

The 20s are simply too warm for a snowflake to thrive in all its splendor. On days like today, when it’s just below freezing, the crystals are smaller and not as nicely shaped.

“And the crystals mostly melt when they hit anything,” Dr. Libbrecht said. “But when it’s really cold, they’ll hang around for a while.”

Contrary to popular belief, New York snow is not necessarily worse than the white stuff out West.

“Snow doesn’t care much about whether you’re in the city or in the country; it’s almost entirely about the temperature,” he said, adding, “It’s above people, so it doesn’t care.”

We might not get crystals of the same caliber as those that Dr. Libbrecht “treasure hunts” for in Vermont and Northern Ontario, where it’s far chillier, but he says that if you look hard enough, you can find some beautiful snowflakes here.

When hunting for that perfect specimen, patience — not exactly a strong suit for New Yorkers — is key.

“People are too impatient, usually,” he said. “They’ll see it’s snowing and want to see snowflakes right now, but it doesn’t work that way; you might not have snowflakes like that just yet.”

“It’s like trying to find a rainbow when it’s raining,” he added. “You’ve got to be there when it happens.”

Here’s what else is happening:

In the News

• Organized crime still has a presence along the New York Harbor waterfront. [New York Times]

• Would Hillary Clinton run for mayor of New York against Bill de Blasio? [New York Times]

• The Long Island Rail Road train that crashed in Brooklyn on Wednesday was going more than twice the speed limit. [New York Times]

• ... And one passenger is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for $5 million. [New York Post]

• Charles F. Feeney, the “James Bond of philanthropy,” gives away the last of his multibillion-dollar fortune. [New York Times]

• Cell service and Wi-Fi are expected to be available at all subway stations across the city by Monday. [DNAinfo]

• Amazon is scheduled to open its first New York City bookstore later this year. [Wall Street Journal]

• At a Brooklyn music festival this weekend, jazz becomes a form of protest for social justice. [Bklyner]

• A group representing grocery stores is upset that New Yorkers on food stamps can now use their benefits to buy provisions online. [Crain’s]